Watch and read: Kilmaley surge to first Clare SHC final in 22 years

Clare Senior Hurling Championship semi-final: Kilmaley 0-25 Scariff 1-11 

The dream-maker that is the Clare Senior Hurling Championship unveiled its latest fairytale story when Kilmaley bridged a 22-year gap to their last final in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg in Ennis.

Having been agonisingly edged out at the death in last year’s semi-final to eventual champions Éire Óg, there seemed a steely determination for Brian Culbert’s side to finally ended their seemingly interminable wait to return to a first final since winning it last in 2004.

Aside from an early Rory Ryan goal, Kilmaley held the whip hand, led by unerring freetaker Tom O’Rourke who metronomically topped up his side’s advantage with an eleven point tally. However, a ravenous Kilmaley, who were beaten in the 2015, ’18 and ’25 semi-finals, only got incrementally better as the tie went on, with ten different scorers getting in on the scoring action as they finished with the last six points to ease into the decider.

Scariff for their part, have been injury-ravaged throughout the knock-out stages and while their indomitable spirit managed to pip last year’s finalists Clooney-Quin to the post at the last eight stage, Donal Moloney’s side wouldn't have the answers this time around.

With key protagonists Keelan Hartigan, Patrick Ryan and Daniel Treacy from the outset, they subsequently saw 2026 Al-Ireland Under 20 winner Paul Rodgers join that treatment table during the second half.

A trio of O’Rourke frees set the tone early on, only for Mark Rodgers to put a spanner in the works when fielding a Liam Corry devilry and offloading to Rory Ryan to fire to the net at 1-1 to 0-3.

Points from Sean Kennedy, Brian McNamara and O’Rourke wrestled back the lead, only for the Rodgers brothers Mark and Paul to regain full parity for a fourth time by the 27th minute at 0-9 to 1-6.

Kilmaley, despite eight first half wides, honed their radar in time for the last three points of the half as O’Rourke’s sixth free was accentuated by a brace of injury-time points for Cian Moloney to give Kilmaley a 0-12 to 1-06 interval edge.

Scariff inevitably hit back on the resumption but Mark Rodgers’ powerful effort would be repelled full length by goalkeeper Bryan O’Loughlin in the opening minute. That was as good as it ultimately got for Scariff though as Tom O’Rourke (2), Sean O’Loughlin and Daire Keane scored four of the next five points for a relieved Kilmaley to carve out a six point cushion by the two-thirds mark at 0-16 to 1-07.

Goalkeeper O’Loughlin again came to Kilmaley’s rescue when intercepting an incisive Rory Ryan pass intended for the waiting Paul Rodgers; also stopped a Shane Kavanagh 20 metre free before a guilt-edged chance for substitute Patrick Ryan frustratingly drifted wide of the right post for a beleaguered Scariff.

Instead, Kilmaley successfully weathered that East Clare storm and surged for the finish line with eight of the last nine points as the clinical Tom O’Rourke, superb targetman Conor Cleary, top scorer from play Brian McNamara and substitutes Eanna McMahon, Colm Killeen and Eoin Enright fleshed out the final margin to complete a memorable hour.

Their reward is a derby final against either holders Éire Óg or Inagh-Kilnamona in a fortnight’s time, with the other semi-final taking place back in Cusack Park on Sunday at 3.30pm.

Scorers for Kilmaley: T O’Rourke 0-11 (9f, 1’65); Brian McNamara 0-3; Cian Moloney, Daire Keane, Conor Cleary 0-2 each; Sean Kennedy, Sean O’Loughlin, Eanna McMahon, Colm Killeen, Eoin Enright 0-1 each 

Scorers for Scariff: Shane Kavanagh 0-4 (2f, 1’65); Patrick Crotty 0-3; Rory Ryan 1-0; Mark Rodgers 0-2 (1f); Paul Rodgers, Liam Crotty 0-1 each

Kilmaley: B O’Loughlin; C Carmody, J Casey, C McGuane; A McGuane, M O’Malley, D Keane; T Barry, S Kennedy; B McNamara, C Moloney, E Cahill; S O’Loughlin, C lkeary, T O’Rourke 

Subs: E Enright for Kennedy (45, inj), C Killeen for Cahill (46), E McMahon for Moloney (56, inj), O Looney for S. O’Loughlin (56), J Carmody for Barry (62) 

Scariff: W Kavanagh; S McCaul, M Scanlan, S Cairns; C Downes, M Crotty, S Kavanagh; L Crotty, P Rodgers; R Keehan, P Crotty, L Madden; R Ryan, M Rodgers, P Nugent Subs: D Nash for Madden (ht), P Ryan for Nugent (ht), S Collins for Keehan (40), E O’Brien for P. Rodgers (51, inj), K Hartigan for R. Ryan (56) 

Referee: J Mullins (Clonlara)

Footage courtesty of StreamSport